Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP)
A State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP servicing Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono Counties.
What is HICAP
HICAP is a State grant program that helps Medicare beneficiaries identify and understand programs and plans, including Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Savings Programs, long-term care insurance, and other public and private health insurance coverage options.
Through one-on-one personalized counseling, education, and outreach, HICAP provides accurate and objective information and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. This allows individuals to better understand and utilize their Medicare benefits. For more information about HICAP in the state of California, visit the California Department of Aging.
How can we help you?
Mrs. Smith had been getting a bill for surgery (over $700) and had been unsuccessful in getting it sorted out. For over a year she had been getting the run-around and there was no way she could afford such a bill, so it was becoming a reality that she was going to be sent to collections. Confused, frustrated and utterly discouraged Mrs. Smith had nearly given up that this would ever be resolved. In a final attempt at resolution she called to see if Inland Agency HICAP could help in any way.
Inland Agency HICAP Volunteer Counselor, Vince Marino met with Mrs. Smith and worked through the mound of correspondence she had. It seemed like the problem started when she wanted to change her insurance plan during Annual Enrollment. Because she doesn’t drive, Mrs. Smith needed help with transportation, and unfortunately the plan she was initially interested in advised her that they did not have a transportation benefit. Consequently, she told the new plan to cancel her enrollment paperwork, which they did, and in fact, Mrs. Smith received confirmation from Medicare that she was still in her old plan. (read more)